9 Bachelorette Party Ideas For The Not-So-Basic Bride

Gone are the days when throwing a bachelorette party meant buying a bunch of sashes and props or hiring a stripper to embarrass your friend before her wedding. More and more brides are ditching tradition and opting for a weekend getaway with their bridesmaids and closest friends. Here, our favorite travel ideas for an alternative bachelorette party—no tiaras allowed.

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A New York City Staycation

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If most of your friends already live in the greatest city on earth, why leave? If they don't, why not plan a weekend to the city that never sleeps. Treat yourselves to a weekend of luxurious splurges—a night at the Carlyle, sushi at Zuma, cocktails at PDT and mani/pedis at Tenoverten. Spend the night at some of the city's best hotels for a quick stay, like the Viceroy, the EDITION, The Marlton, The Ludlow, The Bowery or The Standard, whose nightlife scene is a great way to cap off the night.

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Palm Springs Party

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Moved on from your annual pilgrimage to Coachella, but still want to soak in those desert vibes? Palm Springs is the bachelorette destination for you. Stay right in the middle of it all at the Ace Hotel or the Colony Palms, or rent an Airbnb or a luxe home to give the weekend a slumber party vibe.

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Island Hopping in Croatia

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If you're throwing a destination wedding in Europe, don't make your bridesmaids buy another plane ticket for a bachelorette party. Instead, have them arrive a few days before the big event and head out on a yacht to island hop off the coast of Hvar in the Adriatic Sea.

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Tulum Yoga Retreat

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Take a weekend off from wedding planning and chill out with your friends at a yoga retreat in one of Mexico's most relaxing and beautiful beach destinations. It's just the thing for the bride who's looking for a little bit of zen instead of the next big party.

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Ski Weekend

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Don't feel pressured to go full on spring break for your bachelorette if you're more of a snow bunny than a beach babe. Even if some of your friends don't share your enthusiasm for the slopes, there's still plenty for them to do in places like Jackson Hole and Aspen, from spending the day at the spa or exploring the shops and restaurants in town.

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New England Coastal Getaway

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Recreate Taylor Swift's epic Fourth of July parties by inviting your entire squad for a beach weekend in Newport, Rhode Island. Don't have your own mansion on the beach? Don't worry, you can rent a vacation house for way less than you'd think. If you're looking for the ultimate in luxury on the coast, we'd recommend Castle Hill Inn.

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Wine Country Weekend

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If your dream bachelorette party involves catching up with your best friends over wine and delicious food, head to one of America's gorgeous wine regions for the weekend like California's Napa Valley or somewhere a little more unexpected like New York's Finger Lakes region.

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Southern Sojourn

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Southern cities have become the go-to spot for anti-Las Vegas brides over the past few years. Cities like New Orleans and Nashville both have plenty of places to go out for drinks and dancing, but have a friendlier atmosphere and even better hangover food options (hello, beignets and hot chicken!).

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Unexpected Las Vegas

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Don't go for the clubs—go for the Michelin-star restaurants at the Bellagio and luxe spatreatments at the Mandarin Oriental. But if you fit in a night to go see Britney or Celine perform, we can't blame you…

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